1998 KIA Sephia problems
Owners have filed 994 complaints about the 1998 KIA Sephia with NHTSA. Service brakes, hydraulic account for 30.9% of them — the clear leader, ahead of electrical system at 13.5%.
Complaints994
Crashes61
Fires24
Injuries57
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Service brakes, hydraulic 30.9% · 307
Electrical system 13.5% · 134
Engine and engine cooling 12.9% · 128
Power train 6.9% · 69
Fuel system, gasoline 5.3% · 53
Visibility 4.6% · 46
Air bags 3.1% · 31
Exterior lighting 3.1% · 31
Severity
Of those complaints, 61 describe a crash, 24 describe a fire and 57 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 7 model years of the KIA Sephia in this data, 1998 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 4 in the last three years against 9 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 54,234 miles.
In owners' own words
On 1996-1999 KIA sephias the left front brake hose rubs against a 12 or 14 mm bolt head during turns, causing wear on the hose in as little as 10,000 miles. The bolt is used to attach a splash shield in the wheel well on some but not all sephias. As a technician I have seen this wear on numerous sephias and feel it is only a matter of time before these brake hoses fail and cause accidents and possibly deaths Service brakes, hydraulic
Rotors feel like they're warped again. I feel like this car is a lemon with all the recalls & things going wrong with the brakes. After I read all the other complaints about the KIA I would like to give the car back to them if they would make good on the loan and get me out from under it . And make me free and clear of it. I don't want to have to take it back to have something done to it every 6 months. Service brakes, hydraulic
The consumer applied the brakes and the pedal went to the floor. The driver was able to maintain control of the vehicle and drove to the dealer. The mechanic informed the consumer that the problem could not be duplicated. The consumer informed the mechanic this problem has occurred more than once and the problem has not been resolved. Please provide additional information. Service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other KIA Sephia years
1995 104 complaints · 16.3% power train 1996 203 complaints · 23.2% service brakes, hydraulic 1997 375 complaints · 22.9% service brakes, hydraulic 1999 749 complaints · 27.0% service brakes, hydraulic 2000 461 complaints · 19.7% service brakes, hydraulic 2001 158 complaints · 16.5% engine and engine cooling